Tenses

7/21/2019 Tenses

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/tenses-56ddca5e0eb51 1/9

PRESENT SIMPLE / PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present simple tense has these uses:

1) It is used to describe your habits.

I always have a fruit smoothie before I go to work. I visit my friend in hospital every Sunday.

2) It is used to describe factual information - things that are true. Red meat is a good source of iron.

Drinking orange juice helps your body digest the iron in red meat.

3)It is used to describe things that are true for a long time.

I work at the General Hospital in Hamilton.

y mother is a surgeon.

We can make present simple questions with do do I!we!you!they) or does he!she!it). We answer "!es" I do#or " #o" I don$t etc#.

Do you like your job% !es" I do. Does she work long hours% !es" she does.

Does your boss make you work long hours% #o" he doesn&t.

We make negati$e sentences with don$t I!we!you!they don%t) or doesn%t he!she!it doesn%t).

I don$t like my job.

She doesn$t work long hours.

He doesn&t make me work long hours.

The present continuous tense am' is'are & $erb&-ing) is used to describe something happening at this time.

'he action is in progress - it hasn(t finished yet.

(hat are you doing% I&m reading this email. )ook* +eiko is sleeping at her desk*

We do not ha$e to be doing the action as we are speaking.

I need to go back to work. I&m writing a report on absenteeism.

I&m doing two courses at night school this year.

We use the present continuous tense when describing actions that are temporary.

I&m studying for my last e,am. I&m living in the nurses& home at the moment. -ut soon I will find an apartment.

he /ray machine is broken. (e&re using the one from the ward below this week.

'he present continuous can also be used to talk about a current trend.

0eople are thinking more about how work will affect their families now.(ork absenteeism rates are increasing.

7/21/2019 Tenses


ome $erbs are not normally used in the present continuous tense or in any other continuous tense). 'hese$erbs are not actions. 'hese include* know" remember" hate" understand" suppose" belong.

We can make present continuous questions with am'is'are I!we!you!they) & $erb&-ing+ , $erb&-ing is also

known as the present participle).

We answer "es I am# or "/o I(m not etc0.

1re you enjoying your job% !es" I am.

Is she working long hours at the moment% !es" she is. Is your boss making you work long hours druing the #ew !ear Sales% #o" he isn&t.

We make negati$e sentences with I!we!you!they) am'is'are & not 2 verb23ing.

I&m not sleeping* I&m thinking.

She isn&t sitting at her desk.

She&s standing by thecomputer.

Exercise 1:o is a nurse. ill in the gaps in the description of a typical work day for her by putting the $erb in bracketsinto the correct present simple tense form.

o 1. be) a nurse. he 2. work) at a medical clinic near her home in Ipswich. he 3.

get) to work at 4 am e$ery weekday. he first 5. check) the phone for $oice messages and the fa6

machine for fa6es. he then 7. talk) to the doctors about the day%s appointments. ,t 4.38 she 9. make) sure that the medical instruments :. be) ready for use and that e$erything 4. be) clean

and tidy.'he doctors and nurses ;. start) seeing patients at ;.88. o18. spend) a lot of time gi$ing babies and children $accinations. he 11. talk) to their parents about any worries they 12.

ha$e). 'he doctors 13. call) her for help with bandaging or tests. he 15. be) also a$ailable at

all times for medical emergencies.,t lunchtime o 17. answer) the phone while the receptionist 19. ha$e) her lunch. It 1:.

be & not) a busy time so o usually 14. ha$e) a cup of tea. he 1;. try) to do any paperwork

during this time too. 'he clinic 28. ha$e & not) as many patients in the afternoon unless it 21. be) a riday.

,t around 5.88 she 22. check) that her computer files 23. be) up-to-date. he 25. look)

at the clinic%s stock of medical supplies and 27. phone) the manufacturers to order more of something

if necessary. inally o 29. talk) to the doctors and other nurses about the day%s work. he 2:. go) home around 7.88. he 24. be) usually late lea$ing work. o 2;. lo$e) her <ob but the pay

38. be & not) $ery good.

Exercise 2: ,gnes is an elderly lady. he is in hospital. ill in the gaps in this letter by putting the $erb in brackets into

the correct present continuous tense form.

7/21/2019 Tenses


Answer Key:

Exercise 1*

1. is 2. works 3. gets 5. checks 7. talks 9. makes :. are 4. is ;. start 18. spends 11. talks 12. ha$e 13. call15. is 17. answers19. has 1:. isn%t 14. has 1;. tries 28. doesn%t ha$e 21. is 22. checks 23. are 25. looks 27. phones 29. talks 2:. goes 24. is 2;.

lo$es 38. isn%t.

Exercise

1. am writing 2. am feeling 3. are trying 5. is shining 7. is blooming 9. are shaking :. are ha$ing 4. is coming.

P!ST SIMPLE !N" P!ST CONTINUOUS

The past simple is use#:

1. for an action that started and ended in the past.

I saw a ghost last 4riday.

5ur cat climbed a tree five minutes ago.

In 6une 7889 I visited Rome and 4lorence.

2. for a repeated action in the past.

7/21/2019 Tenses


(hen I was young" I watched lots of televisionevery day after school.+

I always gave my mother flowers on her

birthday.

+We could also say I used to watch lots of television.).

3. for stati$e non-action) $erbs which are $erbs that do not e6press an action but a state of mind or beinge.g. have (own), be, think (believe), know, dislike, need, owe, understand, wish.

He had a small cottage in the woods. He wasn&t afraid of ghosts.

I knew all the other children at my school when I was a child.

=egular past simple tense $erbs end in $ed .

I talked to my uncle yesterday.

I phoned my girlfriend this morning.

Irregular past simple tense $erbs #o not end in $ed . ou need to learn irregular past tense $erbs.

I felt sick yesterday morning so I went to the doctor.

The past continuous tense is use#:

1. when talking about 'W> actions in the past? one continues for a period and the other starts and ends pastsimple).

(hile I was talking on the phone" someone stole my car.

I was making breakfast when the cat knocked over the milk carton" so I burnt the toast.

'hese sentences usually use while or when.

2. to talk about 'W> actions in the past both happening o$er a period.

I was working on my computer and my children were watching television.

3. to talk about a '@AB>=,= acti$ity taking place o$er a limited time.

I was living in Indooroopilly when it happened.

I was staying at my friend&s house while my

parents were touring Italy.

'he past continuous tense is was / were % the present participle.

'he present participle is the base of a $erb & ing i.e. walk walking ).

7/21/2019 Tenses


Read the story and look at the pictures. ill in the gaps in this letter using either the past simple or past

continuous.

A DISASTROUS DINNER

Last Friday, Mrs. Anderson ___________ (plan) to have a delicious dinner. She ____________ (buy) a T-

bone steak and some cream and apples for an apple pie. When she _______________ (come) home from the

shops she ____________________ (put) her shopping on the table. While she ___________________ (set)

the table, her two pets ______________________ (sit) underneath it and _________watch) her. Then she

__________________ (go) to the kitchen to make the pastry for the apple pie. She __________________

(be) a little forgetful so she _________________ (not realize) that the steak, cream and apples

__________________ (be) still on the table.

While she _________________ (make) the pastry, the dog _______________________ (jump) on a chairand ____________________ (look) longingly at the steak. At last it ___________________ (take) the steak

in its mouth and ______________________ (jump) off the chair, just as Mrs. Anderson

___________________ (come) back into the dining room. Mrs. Anderson ____________________ (scream),

but the dog _____________________ (run) into the garden. She _______________________ (run) after the

dog. While she _______________________ (chase) the dog, the cat _____________________ (jump) on the

table and ______________________ (start) drinking the cream. Mrs. Anderson _______________________

(not manage) to catch the dog, and she __________________ (come) back into the dining room. When she

___________________ (see) the cat, she ___________________ (shriek), and the cat

_______________________ (get) such a fright that it ___________________ (jump) a meter into the air, and

_____________________ (leap) out the window. Mrs. Anderson ____________________ (throw) her

broom at the cat, but she __________________ (miss), and ____________________ (break) the window. At

the same time she ______________________ (overbalance) and ____________________(put) her hand in

the cream, spilling it all over the tablecloth. Poor Mrs. Anderson - she ______________________ (have) no

dinner, only a dirty tablecloth and a broken window.

Answer:

Last Friday, Mrs. Anderson planned to have a delicious dinner. She bought a T-bone steak and some cream and apples for an

apple pie. When she came home from the shops she put her shopping on the table. While she was setting the table, her two pets

sat underneath it and watched her. Then she went to the kitchen to make the pastry for the apple pie. She was a little forgetful so

she didn't realize that the steak, cream and apples were still on the table.

While she &as ma'in( the pastry the dog )umpe# on a chair and loo'e# longingly at the steak. ,t last it too' the steak in its

mouth and )umpe# off the chair <ust as Ars. ,nderson &as comin( back into the dining room. Ars. ,nderson screame# but the

dog ran into the garden. he ran after the dog. While she &as chasin( the dog the cat )umpe# on the table and starte# drinkingthe cream. Ars. ,nderson #i#n*t mana(e to catch the dog and she came back into the dining room. When she sa& the cat sheshrie'e# and the cat (ot such a fright that it )umpe# a meter into the air and leapt out the window. Ars. ,nderson thre& her

broom at the cat but she misse# and +ro'e the window. ,t the same time she o,er+alance# and put her hand in the cream

spilling it all o$er the tablecloth. Boor Ars. ,nderson - she ha# no dinner only a dirty tablecloth and a broken window.

7/21/2019 Tenses


PRESENT PER-ECT

The present per.ect $ .orm

'he present perfect simple tense is made with has/have % the past participle. /otice how the au6iliary $erb have

changes to has with he'she'it .)

'he past participle of $erbs is used in the present perfect simple. =egular $erbs take the ending -ed . e.g.

talked" phoned" walked" visited. >ther $erbs are irregular.

Present Per.ect Simple $ Positi,e

I have worked at 1-: since 7887.

!ou have worked at 1-: since 7887.

He ' she ' it has worked at 1-: since7887.

(e have worked at 1-: since 7887.

hey have worked at 1-: since7887.

Present Per.ect Simple $ Ne(ati,e

I haven&t worked at 1-: since 7887.

!ou haven&t worked at 1-: since 7887.

He ' she ' it hasn&t worked at 1-: since 7887.

(e haven&t worked at 1-: since 7887.

hey haven&t worked at 1-: since7887.

Present Per.ect Simple $

0uestion

Have I worked there% Have you worked there%

Has he ' she ' it worked there% Have we worked there% Have they worked there%

The present per.ect has #i..erent uses

It is used to talk about an action which began in the past and continues to the present.

I have worked for this company for the last si, years.

I have sent a lot of emails in the last few minutes.

How long have you worked here%

It is used with words like since" this week'year'month" over the last few weeks" for the last si, months etc. and

today. 'hese words describe an unfinished time.

I have worked here since 7888. I have interviewed four applicants this morning.

I have worked with her for two years.Note: It is never used with time words like last week" last year" yesterday" five minutes ago" in ;<<=

etc. hese words describe a finished time. (e use the past simple with these words.

(rong> I have worked for 1-: last year.:orrect> I worked for 1-: last year.

'he present perfect simple is used to talk about an action that happened in the past where the time is not

mentioned.

I have had three different offices at 1-:. Ce has had three different offices at ,DE in the past. Ce does not tell us &hen.

'he present perfect simple is used.)

If the time is mentioned the simple past tense is used.

7/21/2019 Tenses


I moved into my first office in 7887 when I began working at 1-:. In 788? they promoted me so I got abigger office on the top floor. I moved into my current office in 7889. I really like it. Ce mo$ed into his first office

in 2882 then a bigger one in 2885 and his current office in 2887. 'his tells us &hen he mo$ed into different offices. 'he simple

past tense is used.)

'he present perfect simple is used to talk about e6periences.

I have worked for three other companies but this company is the best*

'he present perfect simple is used in questions with ever . It is used with never and yet .

Have you ever slept at work%

#o" I&ve never slept at work.

'he present perfect is used to talk about something that has happened recentl not long ago). It is used ingi$ing news of something.

y boss has just shouted at me*

'he present perfect simple is used with just, already and recently.

I have just resigned. I have already looked for jobs in the newspaper.

Exercise 1:Rea# the short #escription Then ans&er the 2uestions + completin( the sentences One is #one .or

ou as an example

Hi" my name&s 1ndrew. I have been a consultant for si, years. I have worked for 1-: for the last four years.

his is the office where I do all my work. y desk faces the window so I can look outside when I need to

think.his coffee machine makes great coffee. I have had it for over a year. During that

time lots of staff have come in and served themselves coffee because the cafeteria

downstairs makes horrible coffee.

his afternoon I haven&t been very busy. I&ve only written a few emails and made two phonecalls. I&ve hadthree cups of coffee.

1. Cow long ha$e you been a consultantF I ha$e been a consultant . @6ample answer* I

ha$e been a consultant .or six ears

2. Cow long ha$e you worked for ,DEF I ha$e worked here .

3. Cow long ha$e you had this coffee machineF I this coffee machine for o$er a year.

7/21/2019 Tenses


5. Cow many staff ha$e used itF it.

7. Ca$e you been busy this afternoonF /o this afternoon.

9. Cow many phonecalls ha$e you made this afternoonF I this afternoon.

Exercise 2:Ehoose either the simple past tense or the present perfect tense in the sentences below.

1. Have you ever been 'were you ever rude to your bossF

2. /o I have never been 'was never rude to my boss.

3. Well I have shouted'shouted at my boss twiceG

5. I have shouted'shouted at him last night when he asked me to work late. ,nd I have been rude' was rude to

him one night at an office party.

7. Ay parents have always told' always told me to be polite to the boss. 'hey have been'were angry with mewhen I told them that I was rude to my boss at the office party.

Answer Key:Exercise 1

2. I ha$e worked here .or the last .our ears 3. I ha,e ha# this coffee machine for o$er a year. 5. Lots o. sta.. ha,e use# it. 7. Iha,en*t +een +us this afternoon. 9. I*,e ma#e two phonecalls this afternoon.

Exercise

1. Ca$e you e$er 2. ha$e ne$er been 3. ha$e shouted 5. shouted was rude 7. ha$e always told!were

SIMPLE , CONTINUOUS

Present* I go to work by train Bresent* I am going to work by train.

habitual action) a) /ow b) In the future.

Past* I bought a coat last 4riday. Bast* (hile I was buying a coat" something else happened.

'wo actions in one sentence - one continued for a period and the other started and ended. >ften used with(while().

Per.ect* I have bought a coat. Berfect* I have been writing letters all morning" and now I am tired.

/otice that I do not mention a time as in the Bast 'ense).

7/21/2019 Tenses


Past Per.ect* (hen we had locked up" we went to bed. Bast Berfect* She had been reading maga@ines allafternoon because it had been raining" and by 7 o(clock she was bored.)

'wo actions in the past one happening before the other. >ften used with when after.)

'wo actions in the past one starting and continuing until the second later one.)

'his e$en applies in the Passi,e.

Present* hese books are printed in this country. a permanent fact). 0resent * he books are being printed atthe moment. hey will be ready ne,t week.

Past* y dress was made by a young designer. Bast* (hile my dress was being made" I phoned the designer

every day.

Per.ect* y dress has been delivered. Berfect - doesn(t e6ist - no such tense as has been being done.

I shall be sending in lessons on the use of the Berfect so watch out for those. It is a difficult tense.

Documents

Tenses